Questions to Help Determine the Best Initial Cloud Implementation - Slide 6

E-Mail and Collaboration

At the moment, there seem to be four primary applications that lend themselves to the cloud. The first is as a backup solution, one that either supplements or replaces on-premises infrastructure. Other initial applications include e-mail and collaboration, as a Web infrastructure, and as a test and development environment for in-house applications. In all cases, the pervasiveness of the cloud and its ability to provide the appropriate resources based on fluctuating data requirements are key advantages.

Along with those limitless resources and the sky-high scalability, the cloud introduces a complex new environment into your closed and static IT infrastructure - one that needs to be dealt with carefully so that it not only provides the level of service you require but does so without significant disruptions to current business practices and cultures. This slideshow provides a series of questions you should answer to determine the cloud application area that makes the most sense for your initial implementation.